Hero Initiative Heads to Big WOW! ComicFest 2015

Press Release:

Hero Initiative, the non-profit organization that helps comic creators in medical and financial need, will be attending San Jose’s Big WOW! ComicFest on April 18-19th at the San Jose Convention Center, 150 West San Carlos St. in San Jose.

Hero will be at booth #300 on the convention floor, and Hero Initiative Ambassadors on the con floor will collecting for Hero include: Brent Anderson, Dan Brereton, Dave Gibbons, Mick Gray, Rich Koslowski, Joseph Michael Linsner, John Livesay, Bill Morrison, Marat Mychaels, Paolo Rivera, and Chrissie Zullo. Make sure you stop by and do the right thing!

About The Hero Initiative:

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strict to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment. Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $700,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.

Big Wow! ComicFest Previews Art Auction

Press Release:

The annual Big Wow! ComicFest Art Auction will be held on Saturday April 18th, 2015. The blind auction will run throughout the day in the art gallery in the back of the hall, and will wrap up at 5:30 PM Interested parties must sign up for a bidder/paddle number and then can begin placing blind bids on the art they are interested in.

Art that does not receive three bids will sell for the highest offer at 5:30 PM, and ones that do get at least three bids will be placed in the live auction that begins at 6:30 PM in Panel Room B. There will be a cash bar in the room, and hopefully a number artists that submitted their works to the auction in attendance. Pictured is Stan Sakai’s submission, additional pieces contributed by Neal Adams, Joe Linsner, Brandon Peterson, and many more can be seen at the link…

Get tickets at the link!

Guests include: Brent Anderson, Sanya Anwar, Stephen Bissette, Mark Bode, Nick Bradshaw, Tim Bradstreet, Dan Brereton, Danny Bulanadi, Frank Cho, Frank Cirocco, Lela Dowling, Tom Felton, Stephen E. Gordon, Adi Granov, Mick Gray, Rich Koslowski, Jake Lloyd, Ron Lim, Toshio Maeda, Steve Mannion, Chris Marrinan, Bill Morrison, Darick Robertson, Tone Rodriguez, Don Rosa, Stuart Sayger, Liam Sharp, Scott Shaw, Bill Sienkiewicz, John Totleben, Herb Trimpe, Rick Veitch, Tim Vigil, Ben Wolstenholme, Thomas Yeates, and more.

For more information on Big WOW! Comicfest please check the website (www.bigwowcomicfest.com) and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Draco Malfoy Apparates into BIG WOW! ComicFest 2015

Press Release:

Big celebrity guest announcement! We are pleased to welcome Tom Felton to Big Wow 2015! Saturday only!

Tom was born in Epsom, Surrey, to Sharon and Peter Felton. He has been acting since he was eight years old at the suggestion of an actress friend of his family who recognized Felton’s theatrical qualities. Felton met with an agent, and two weeks later, after auditioning with over 400 other children, he landed an international commercial campaign and went abroad to work.

A talented singer, he started singing in a church choir at the age of seven and has been a member of four choirs at school. He declined an offer to join the Guildford Cathedral Choir. He is a keen sportsman enjoying football (soccer), ice skating, roller blading, basketball, cricket, swimming, and tennis.

After working on Anna and the King with Jodie Foster, Tom received his big break in Harry Potter (and the Sorcerer’s Stone) as Draco Malfoy, school boy rival to the titular character as played by Daniel Radcliffe. Tom managed to film the part of Draco in all eight Harry Potter movies while also having an active life outside the magical world it created. In between shoots he filmed independent horror movies The Disappeared, Night Wolf, and The Apparition with Twilight’s Ashley Greene. It was directly after completing his filming on Harry Potter that he landed his roles in Rise of the Planet of the Apes and From the Rough. His newest projects are In Secret, and Fangs of Warand.

In between acting gigs, Tom still manages times with his music. He is one of the founding owners and talent of Six String Productions, a recording company devoted to signing young musical artists overlooked by the major recording industry.

Get tickets at the link!

Guests include: Brent Anderson, Sanya Anwar, Stephen Bissette, Mark Bode, Nick Bradshaw, Tim Bradstreet, Dan Brereton, Danny Bulanadi, Frank Cho, Frank Cirocco, Lela Dowling, Stephen E. Gordon, Adi Granov, Mick Gray, Rich Koslowski, Ron Lim, Toshio Maeda, Steve Mannion, Chris Marrinan, Bill Morrison, Darick Robertson, Tone Rodriguez, Don Rosa, Stuart Sayger, Liam Sharp, Scott Shaw, Bill Sienkiewicz, John Totleben, Herb Trimpe, Rick Veitch, Tim Vigil, Ben Wolstenholme, Thomas Yeates, and more to be announced.

For more information on Big WOW! Comicfest please check their website (www.bigwowcomicfest.com) and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

CA – Nocturnals: Legend Signing

Meet artist Dan Brereton at Heroes and Villains Comics on Friday, January 23, 2015 from 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm as he presents NOCTURNALS LEGEND. A twenty year retrospective celebrating Dan Brereton’s Eisner-nominated series of dark pulp heroes, the Nocturnals. Packed with many never-before-published illustrations, as well as paintings and drawings spanning the twenty year history of this influential “monster noir” series.

RSVP on Facebook!

Heroes and Villains Comics
264 Main Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566
925-399-5352

Big Wow! ComicFest 2015 Tickets Available Now

Press Release:

Big WOW! Comicfest returns on April 18th & 19th, 2015 at the San Jose Convention Center! Admission tickets are now available! Along with the standard Weekend and Single Day passes for Adults and Children, Big WOW! Comicfest also has the following VIP and Lifetime Admission Options available.

VIP Big WOW! Package includes a special VIP Lanyard, Weekend Pass to Big WOW! Comicfest, 1/2 hour early entry into the show both Saturday and Sunday, Big WOW! VIP bag, Big WOW! Comicfest 2015 T-Shirt, front row seating to any panel except the Swamp Thing panel, and more Big WOW! ComicFest exclusive items!

VIP Swamp Thing Package includes a Limited Edition Print signed by John Totleben, Stephen Bissette, Rich Veitch, and Tom Yeates, a special VIP Lanyard, Weekend Pass to Big WOW! Comicfest, 1/2 hour early entry into the show both Saturday and Sunday, Big WOW! VIP bag, Big WOW! Comicfest 2015 T-Shirt, and front row seating to the Swamp Thing panel.

Lifetime Admission to Big WOW! ComicFest, as well as the East Bay Comic Con and the Bakersfield Comic Con! Lifetime Admission comes with a complimentary Big WOW! ComicFest VIP package for the 2015 Con. You’ll be able to upgrade to VIP status for future shows. We are limiting sales to only 100 so you’ll want to scoop these up while you have the chance!

Get tickets at the link!

Guests include: Brent Anderson, Sanya Anwar, Stephen Bissette, Mark Bode, Nick Bradshaw, Tim Bradstreet, Dan Brereton, Danny Bulanadi, Frank Cho, Frank Cirocco, Lela Dowling, Stephen E. Gordon, Adi Granov, Mick Gray, Rich Koslowski, Ron Lim, Toshio Maeda, Steve Mannion, Chris Marrinan, Bill Morrison, Darick Robertson, Tone Rodriguez, Don Rosa, Stuart Sayger, Liam Sharp, Scott Shaw, Bill Sienkiewicz, John Totleben, Herb Trimpe, Rick Veitch, Tim Vigil, Ben Wolstenholme, Thomas Yeates, and more to be announced.

For more information on Big WOW! Comicfest please check their website (www.bigwowcomicfest.com) and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

CA – Nocturnals Signing

Dan Brereton appears at Treasure Island Comics on Saturday, December 6th from 4:30 – 7:00 pm to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nocturnals with a new volume entitled LEGEND!

RSVP on Facebook!

Treasure Island Comics
5018 Mowry Avenue, Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 744-9287

CA – Nocturnals: Legend Signing

Dan Brereton appears at Flying Colors Comics on Saturday, December 6th from noon till 3:00 pm to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nocturnals with a new volume entitled LEGEND!

RSVP on Facebook!

Flying Colors Comics
2980 Treat Blvd (at Oak Grove Rd), Concord, CA 94518
(925) 825-5410

BIG WOW! ComicFest Returns this Weekend…May 17-18, 2014

Press Release:

Big Wow! Comic Fest Returns to San Jose on May 17th & 18th, 2014, bringing two great days of Comic Book, Art, Anime, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Gaming and Cosplay FUN! Many of the country’s best vendors of all things cool and collectible will tempt your wallets with the perfect gifts for Geek, Nerds, Fans and True Collectors, everywhere!

Founded in 1979 as “Super-Con”, Big Wow! Comic Fest is not only Northern California’s Longest-Running Comic-Con, but is this year’s Only Major Comics Event in the San Francisco Bay Area!

As the Original Artist-Friendly Show, we have Fantastic Comic Book Creator Guests spanning all decades and genres! This year we are pleased to welcome as our Featured Guests: Charlie Adlard (Artist for the popular “Walking Dead” series), Legendary Illustrator Neal Adams (Batman, X-Men, Avengers), Hellboy Creator Mike Mignola, Fan-Favorites… Travis Charest (Weapons of the Metabarons), Art Adams (X-Men, Godzilla), and more Special Guests including: Dan Brereton (Nocturnals), Mike Zeck (Punisher, Spider-Man, Secret Wars), Joe Linsner (Dawn), Bill Morrison (The Simpsons, Futurama, Disney Poster Artist), Alex Nino (Dead Ahead), Sergio Aragones (Mad Magazine, Groo the Wanderer), Liam Sharp (Gears of War), and many more confirmed and added to our website! Over 200 Comic Creators!

Meet, get autographs, and learn the secrets of Show Biz from our spectacular CELEBRITY GUESTS:

GODZILLA is in the House…Meet Kenpachiro Satsuma, in 1984’s RETURN OF GODZILLA, he would land the title role of Godzilla and continue as the King of Monsters for the next 11 years. This is first time to America in over 20 years.

Also from Japan, meet Satoshi Furuya he enthralled generations of children with his portrayal of the original Ultraman.

Jane Wiedlin is the sexy and charismatic guitar player for The GoGos! One of the best known Rock/Pop groups to emerge from the 1980’s, Jane is back at work, creating a stage production for her self published comic series “Lady Robotica”.

Also Appearing will be: Kevin Bernard Grevioux (Co-Writer, Producer and actor in “Underworld”, “I, Frankenstein” and comic book writer), Damion Poitier (Avengers (in the last 2 minutes, he was the surprise Villian), Star Trek, Hunter Prey…and the son of Sidney Poitier). Also, C. Andrew Nelson (Darth Vader), Parker Stevenson (Hardy Boys), Richard Kiel (007 “Jaws”), William Katt (Greatest American Hero, House)…and more

COSPLAY Guests Jessica Nigri, Riddle (star of “Heroes of Cosplay”), Ivy Doomkitty, Anthony Misano… and many more will all be on site. Along with hundreds and hundreds of amazing fans all in costume.

Super-Star Cartoonist and Big Wow! Bigwig Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows, 50 Girls 50), will teach a 90-minute Figure Drawing Workshop with a live model, demonstrating fundamentals of technique and style. Any aspiring artist is welcome to sit in the audience and work along with Frank, who will provide priceless tips and critiques! And Inker Extraordinaire Mick Gray (Starman, Promethea) will once again provide a weekend-long inking demonstration as he works on his current comic book assignment at his booth! Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see professional comic artists at work!

In conjunction with San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum, Big Wow! Comic Fest proudly presents “BATMAN!, 75 years a Hero” Featuring Seven Decades of Original Art and Memorabilia from the DC Comics world-famous Super Hero. Also, there will be 2 additional shows, “The Art of MIKE ZECK!” And “The ART of FAMOUS MONSTERS”.

And Speaking of Famous Monsters… We are hosting the 1st Annual “Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film Festival” with the legendary Famous Monsters Magazine… who are also hosting our Japanese guest, and presenting the “Famous Monsters of Filmland” Pavilion with guests, props, make-up and costume designers and more.

And no Big Wow! ComicFest is complete without our:

Live Art Auction, Costume/Cosplay Contest (Saturday night directly after the show), Gaming, Card & Role-Playing Games, “Creature Features Live” with host: John Stanley, showing the original “Night of the Living Dead.”

Panel Discussions, including: Creating Comics, The Art of Self-Publishing, and how to Design and Create Your Own Costumes! There will be 5 rooms of programming going on, throughout the show.

Tickets are available on the website. And we have tickets available at over 30 participating comic book stores around Northern California.

Admission is only:

1 Day Adult $25.00 (at the door)

2 Day Adult $35.00 (at the door)

1 Day Child (8-14) $10.00 (at the door)

2 Day Child $15.00 (at the door)

CHILDREN UNDER 8 ARE FREE!

*Save $5.00 Off Admission! Buy tickets online, or at many local Comic Book Stores!

FOR MORE INFORMATION we will always have guest and programming updates for the show at: www.bigwowcomicfest.com. Also, most of our Guests will be available before the show for online, phone and in some cases, personal appearance Interviews.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Hero Initiative Heads to San Jose’s BIG WOW! Comic-Fest in May 2014

Press Release:

Hero Initiative, the non-profit organization that helps comic creators in medical and financial need, will be attending San Jose’s BIG WOW! Comic-Fest on May 17-18 at the San Jose Convention Center, 150 West San Carlos Street.

Make sure you grab the amazing Walking Dead 100 book at out booth, #915-#917 and be sure to get it signed by the many contributors in attendance! Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard will be at the con, as will eight other artists who participated in the project. Proceeds of your purchase will help someone in need!

And you can put your Walking Dead book in your NEW Hero tote bag! Hero’s new totes make their debut at BIG WOW! and are available at a mere $5!

In addition, check out the ambassadors for Hero who will be raising money for our charity at their own booths: Arthur Adams, Brent Anderson, Dan Brereton, Joyce Chin, Mick Gray, Drew Johnson, Rich Koslowski, Michael Lark, John Livesay, Laura Martin, Terry Moore, Norm Rapmund, Darick Robertson, Greg Rucka, and David Williams will all have donation jars for Hero!

Panel Schedule for BIG WOW! ComicFest 2014

Press Release:

Big Wow Comic Fest’s 2014 Programs & Panels schedule will be jam packed with Artist Demonstrations, Cosplay Instruction and fun, Creator Interviews and Presentations, and so many more exciting opportunities to interact with today’s most talented creators! Also, don’t forget the Live Art, Superman Museum Show, Kid’s Corner and so much more going on at the show.

SATURDAY MAY 17, 2014

Famous Monsters Film Fest Day One (Program)
10:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Schedule to be posted soon.

Getting Started with Copic Pens (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Want to buy some Copic pens but are intimidated by the sheer number of colors? Have some and don’t know what to do with them? A Certified Copic Designer will give a bare-bones introduction, explain how the color system works, how to find discount prices and hints on how to start building up your studio collection. Note: This is NOT a certification class or hands-on workshop and is best suited for people with absolutely no experience with Copics. – Room D

Top Cow (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Meet with Matt Hawkins, President and C.O.O of Top Cow Productions and writer of Aphrodite IX, Think Tank, and other highly acclaimed series, for a discussion on the future of Top Cow as well as what’s on all of your minds: how to break into comics! With information on Top Cow’s annual Talent Hunt, the tricks of the trade, and just what it takes to make your pitch pop, this is one panel you won’t want to miss. – Room A

Working with Greg Rucka… (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Guest artists Michael Lark and Justin Greenwood will discuss their takes on working with writer Greg Rucka, and he with them. Michael Lark has worked with Greg on multiple occasions including Gotham Central, Punisher and their creator owned Image title Lazarus. Justin Greenwood is currently working with Greg on Stumptown. Hear from both an artist’s and writer’s perspective as to when they know there is a good creative match on a project and why. These creators will discuss their projects and the creative process. Moderated by David Brothers, Editor of Lazarus & Content Manager for Image Comics – Room B
Attending Guests: Justin Greenwood, Michael Lark, Greg Rucka

Collecting Batman! (Panel)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Holy Grails, Batman! Celebrate the Dark Knight’s 75th anniversary and Big Wow! Comicfest’s exclusive Batman Museum with Bill Morrison and a panel of Batman collectors! Panelists will discuss their Caped Crusader Collections, swap stories about great finds, lament the items that got away, compare notes about where they draw the line, and reveal their most sought-after, yet-to-be-collected bat-baubles! – Room B
Attending Guests: Bill Morrison

Remembering the Ackermansion (Panel)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Filmmakers Tom Wyrsch and Strephon Taylor (Remembering Playland at the Beach”, Sutros: The Palace at Lands End”) will present highlights from their brand new feature length film, “Uncle Forry’s Ackermansions” The film is a vast tour of Forrest J Ackerman’s, now gone, Los Angeles mansion-museum starting with the original Ackermansion and ending with the Acker-mini-mansion. Archival footage with hundreds photographs make up a fascinating video tour. Joining the panel will be Tom Khamis (LASFS Historian), Audience Q&A inlcuded. – Room D
Attending Guests: Strephon Taylor, Tom Wyrsch

Cultural Diversity in Comics (Panel)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Positives and negative strides towards Cultural Diversity in the comics genre and film. Have there been enough strides not only in the books and films but behind the scenes? What can be done to make it better for everyone or is it fine where it is at? – Room D
Attending Guests: Kevin Bernard Grevioux, Damion Poitier, David Williams

Punchdrunk Mustache! (Panel)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Join nine current and former Lucasfilm Animation Artists as they discuss the creation of the art book Punchdrunk Mustache, published last summer to great acclaim by Design Studio Press. Featuring stories and concepts created by Star Wars: The Force Unleashed artists Amy Beth Christenson, Chris Voy and Jeff Sangalli, as well as artists who contributed to Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Detours, Punchdrunk Mustache is a visual thrill ride! Spend time with theses talented artists. – Room C
Attending Guests: John-Paul Balmet, Will Nichols, Sean Pando, Amy Beth Christenson Smith, Chris Voy, Nate Watson

The Art of Kaiju & Master of Monster (Panel)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Kaiju expert, FM guest editor, and author of the newly reprinted Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monster, August Ragone will be joined by Hugo Award-winning and FM cover artist Bob Eggleton to talk about how Japanese monsters have shaped Wester pop culture, influenced their personal and professional lives, and why character like Godzilla and Ultraman continue to be worldwide sensations. – Room B
Attending Guests: Bob Eggleton, August Ragone

 

Comics University (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
“Comics University”, a discussion co-moderated by panelists Ed Luce (Professor in the Comics MFA Program at California College of the Arts and creator of Wuvable Oaf Comics) and Maia Kobabe (CCA Comics MFA student and creator of “The Thief’s Tale” comics). Ed and Maia, along with both undergraduate and Comics MFA grads, will discuss how comics fit into the diverse undergraduate program at CCA, the myriad of professional reasons one might pursue a Master’s Degree in comics. – Room D

Doug Sneyd – 50 Years of Playboy (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Doug has worked for Playboy magazine since the early 1964, many remember lovely scantily (and even non-) clad “Sneyd” girls and the one-line jokes he did thru the years. Though many may not know the man behind all the great art and humour. Come hear Doug talk about his career drawing for Playboy. – Room C
Attending Guests: Doug Sneyd

Japan’s Heroes and Monsters (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
August Ragone and his Kaiju crew will be hosting FM’s panel that will feature Kenpachiro Satsuma (Godzilla, ’84-’95), Bin Furuya (Ultraman), and Daisuke Ban (Kikaida, Inazuman). Each actor will tell their stories of how they came to embody these incredible roles, as well as take questions from the audience. – Room A
Attending Guests: Daisuke Ban, Satoshi Furuya, August Ragone, Kenpachiro Satsuma

Madefire (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Charlie Adlard, Liam Sharp, Ben Wolstenholme and the good folk of Madefire host a talk and Q & A about opportunities for old and new creators in the digital realm, and how comics and motion books can be good for each other. A must for anybody interested in new ways of getting their work seen! – Room B
Attending Guests: Charlie Adlard, Daniel Presedo, Liam Sharp

Dan Brereton Portfolio Review (Panel)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
It isn’t your impressive artwork alone that will land you a job or the position you’re seeking, but the presentation of your artwork in your portfolio. Veteran illustrator and painter Dan Brereton will be on hand to discuss your artwork in a friendly and constructive group critique, as well as the presentation of your work. All age, skill and experience levels are welcome. – Room D
Attending Guests: Dan Brereton

CBLDF Comic Code (Panel)
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
60 years ago, comics were put on trial in a nationally televised Senate subcommittee hearing that had shattering repercussions for this great American art form. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund presents the shocking history of moral panic that led to this historic hearing and the birth of the Comics Code Authority, which regulated the medium’s content for more than 50 years. CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein tells the tale at this CBLDF presentation. – Room D

BigWOW ComicFest Art Auction (Panel)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
This will be your opportunity to bid on and win pieces of original collectible art, hand drawn, by numerous guests who are attending the show. All of the art will be on display in the exhibitor hall, museum gallery, throughout the day Saturday and will be available to be bid on in a blind auction format.

Come to the live auction portion of the event to bid on various pieces of art created specifically for the auction by the likes of Frank Cho, Michael Lark, Alfonso Azpiri, Frank Cirocco, Rich Koslowski and some published pieces contributed by Charlie Adlard, Justin Greenwood and many others! A number of the convention’s guests will be on-hand to mingle at this social event and to encourage fans to bid high on their works of art! – Room B

There will be a cash bar setup in the auction room for those interested. This should be a lively and entertaining event for all. Both cash and credit cards will be accepted for your art auction purchases.

Creature Features Live! (Panel)
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Back by popular demand is Creature Features Live! Hosted by John Stanley and Lord Blood-Rah. Presented just as Creature Features was back in the early eighties, but on stage rather than on television. Opening dialog, feature length movie “Night of the Living Dead” a Creature Features classic, TV commercials, guest interviews, special announcements, and Living Dead in the audience. – Room A
Attending Guests: Lord Blood-Rah, John Stanley

SUNDAY MAY 18, 2014

Famous Monsters Film Fest Day Two (Program)
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Schedule to be posted soon.

CreaturesCon 3 (Panel)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join the CreaturesCon gang, John Stanley (Creature Features 1971 to 1984), Ernie Fosselius (Hardware Wars), Lord Blood-Rah (Movie Host), Tom Wyrsch (Writer / Director) and Strephon Taylor (November Fire) for an information-packed journey through Creature Features, TV Horror Hosting, classic Sci-Fi and Horror films, Bob Wilkins and much more. The panel will share personal memories, show rare video clips and review Creature Features favorite films. Audience Q&A included. – Room B
Attending Guests: Lord Blood-Rah, Ernie Fosselius, John Stanley, Strephon Taylor, Tom Wyrsch
Drawing The Walking Dead (Panel)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Artist, Charlie Adlard, and inker Stefano Gaudiano discuss what it is like to create the images behind the hugely successful comic and tv series The Walking Dead. Charlie will explain how his art style has evolved during his tenure on the book and how having an inker allows him to work differently now. Stefano, being the newest addition to the team, shares his experiences of inking Charlie and how this project differs from his vast number of other previous collaborations. They’ll discuss the controversial “All Out War” storyline and how working on a near bi-weekly schedule for a year affected how they worked. Moderated by Mark Hay, owner of Splash Page Comic Art, art dealer for Charlie & Stefano – Room A
Attending Guests: Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano
Drawing Who (Panel)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Josh Adams (DOCTOR WHO, EUREKA, WAREHOUSE 13, GARDEN OF STEVEN) and Blair Shedd (DOCTOR WHO, LEGENDS OF OZ, GHOSTBUSTERS, THE RAPTOR) have both had the honor of being chosen to draw official Doctor Who comics for IDW Publishing. Josh and Blair will talk about how they got the job (and other behind the scenes stories), meeting Doctor Who cast and crew, chat about Who-fandom in general, and do a Q and A if the audience wishes. – Room C
Attending Guests: Josh Adams, Blair Shedd

 

Figure Drawing with Frank Cho (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Free figure drawing class open to public, headed by Marvel Comics artist, Frank Cho. Cosplayer, Ivy Doomkitty, will model for this drawing class. All the audience members are encoraged to draw along
with Frank Cho, who will critique the drawings by the audience members at the end of class. – Room A
Attending Guests: Frank Cho, Ivy Doomkitty
Jack Kirby Museum (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Jack Kirby is the creator or co-creator of The X-Men, Hulk Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, Captain America, The Avengers, Darkseid, Mister Miracle and hundreds more. He was probably the most prolific comics artist ever and almost every artist is inspired by him. Artists will discuss which comics led them to follow Jack, what panels they have learned from, and how hard it is to make that Kirby Krackle look right. – Room C
Attending Guests: Mark Badger, Bruce Simon
Native Americans in Comics (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Ever since Native American people began drawing on rock walls, they’ve been part of the comic book universe. However, stereotypes persist due to the lack of Native artists or writers employed by the mainstream comics industry. Now, these artists have taken initiative and formed The Indigenous Narratives Collective and INC Comics. INC’s Arigon Starr (“Super Indian”) and Lee Francis IV (“Pueblo Jones”) will discuss the state of Native American comics. Moderated by UC Santa Cruz’s writer/poet/playwright Dr. Carolyn Dunn. – Room D
Attending Guests: Arigon Starr
Marvel Masterpiece Theatre (Panel)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
MARVEL MASTERPIECE THEATER ! presents a dramatic table read of the 1968 Marvel Comics classic tale unfolded in AVENGERS 59 & 60, “The Wedding of Yellowjacket & Wasp”, by Roy Thomas and John Buscema. Both issues feature a number of cameos from the Marvel universe of the late Sixties, fun pop culture references of the day, amazing superhero action and sizzling dialogue ! Pages of Big John Buscema’s fantastic art and storytelling will follow on the screen as our cast reads the text. – Room B
Attending Guests: Mark Badger, Dan Brereton, Damion Poitier, Liam Sharp, Jane Wiedlin
Collecting Comic Art (Panel)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Have you ever wanted something from your favorite comic book? Brian Peck and fellow collectors guide you through the world of collecting comic art – from what it all means, to where to find the art. Discussing a wide range of topics from History of how this hobby started to grow and what use to happen to all the art in the old days? How computers have changed the look of (or non-existance of in some cases) original art? How the internet has changed and expanded the art hobby? How ebay has altered the collectors market? How the auction houses have impacted the hobby? Comparison of values between cover/splashes/interiors? Conservation and preservation? – Room D

 

Japan’s Heroes and Monsters (Panel)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
August Ragone and his Kaiju crew will be hosting FM’s panel that will feature Kenpachiro Satsuma (Godzilla, ’84-’95), Bin Furuya (Ultraman), and Daisuke Ban (Kikaida, Inazuman). Each actor will tell their stories of how they came to embody these incredible roles, as well as take questions from the audience. – Room C
Attending Guests: Daisuke Ban, Satoshi Furuya, August Ragone, Kenpachiro Satsuma
CBLDF Auction (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Top creators Terry Moore, along with some guests to be announced will create live art before your eyes. The only rule is that it would have been forbidden by the Comics Code! Join the CBLDF and these great creators as they talk censorship and make once-in-a-lifetime art! Get a chance to watch live art made before your eyes, learn about censorship, and bid to win the pieces made here to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. – Room B
Attending Guests: Terry Moore
Comics And Comics (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Geeks Assemble! “Comics and Comics” is all-fanboy stand-up comedy, presented by the nerdiest comedians in the multiverse. From comic books to video games, from anime to Dr. Who, from Star Wars to Star Trek, from Dungeons and Dragons to that one episode of Thundarr the Barbarian where the evil wizards have this race to determine who gets the Helmet of Power, you can rest assured that all geek bases will be covered! – Room C

The Batman Chronicles: Special Screening & Discussion (Panel)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
A three part short film following a young Bruce Wayne as he struggles with a corrupt justice department & faces off against a maniacal new menace hell bent on taking over Gotham. All three parts of the film will be shown, followed by a Q&A with Actor, Producer & Editor Anthony Misiano. – Room C
Attending Guests: Anthony Misiano
The Science and Fiction of Alternate Realities (Panel)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
The idea that there may be universes other than our own has long been a staple of fantasy and science fiction. Now physicists are telling us that there may be some truth in this idea. How much is fact and how much is fiction? Are there other universe? If there are, how similar are they to our own? Do universes “split,” and if so, how? Would it be possible to travel between them. What are some of the ways these ideas have been explored in fiction — and what avenues are still ripe. – Room D

Big Wow! ComicFest – The Original Artist Friendly Convention – returns to San Jose May 17th & 18th, 2014, bringing two great days of Comic Book, Anime/Manga, Art, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Gaming and Cosplay FUN! Many of the country’s best vendors of all things cool and collectible will tempt your wallets with the perfect gifts for Geek, Fans and True Collectors, everywhere! Big Wow! ComicFest is the only major comics event in the San Francisco Bay Area this year.

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